Following the Doctor Who showrunner’s criticism that the reveal of the Marvel Cinematic Universe villain’s bisexuality was too “feeble” compared to the widespread praise it received from the press, Loki director Kate Herron has responded to Russell T. Davies by expressing hope that it at least helped “open the door and that more stories will come.”
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The blink-and-you’ll-miss-it detail was confirmed in the Disney Plus series’ third episode, Lamentis.
During a discussion of their respective love lives, Loki’s alternate-universe female counterpart Sylvie asks the Asgardian, “What about you? You’re a prince. Must have been would-be princesses. Or perhaps another prince?”
“A bit of both. I suspect the same of you,” replies Loki, before quickly moving on and never touching upon the fact for the rest of the series.
Taking to Twitter after the episode premiered, Herron explained that “From the moment I joined Loki it was very important to me, and my goal, to acknowledge Loki was bisexual.”
“It is in a part of who he is and who I am too,” she wrote. “I know this is a small step but I’m happy, and heart is so full, to say that this now Canon in #mcu.”
In the wake of both Herron and Disney’s subsequent and loud boasting that the reveal was an “important” moment for both society and the MCU, Davies decried what he saw as a cheap attempt to pander to the LGBT community.
“Loki makes one reference to being bisexual once, and everyone’s like, ‘Oh my god, it’s like a pansexual show,’” he told attendees during a Swansea University Pride month panel held in June 2021. “It’s like one word. He said the word ‘prince’, and we’re meant to go, ‘Thank you, Disney! Aren’t you marvellous?’”
“It’s a ridiculous, craven, feeble gesture towards the vital politics and the stories that should be told,” added Davies, who further expressed “worry” that streaming services would “damn us” with “their condescension in the end.”
Speaking to Davies’ feedback during a s, Herron admitted, “I don’t disagree that there should be bigger stories being told, but — and I think he has a right to his opinion — I’m very proud of what we did in the show.”
“Russell is a hero of mine,” she concluded. “But like I’ve said, I hope that we did at least open the door and that more stories will come.”
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